Head immobilizer

Abstract

A base headboard for supporting the back of an injured person's head has an elongated slot with teeth racks disposed on either side of the injured person's head. The headboard also comprises straps for attaching to a spine board. Two side head blocks are removably attached to the headboard using plunger-type locks that engage an elongated slot on each side of a center portion of the headboard. Each lock is engaged to a slot of the headboard through a separate elongated slot in the corresponding head block. Advantageously, a head block may be adjusted by moving the engagement of the lock along each independent slot in the headboard and head block, respectively. In addition, a head block may be rotated around its lock. Head pads and straps, and pads and straps for cervical collars that come into contact with a patient may be replaceable and packaged in a kit, thereby allowing the durable components (such as head blocks and headboard) to be reused indefinitely and reducing cleaning costs and minimizing exposure to pathogens. Such a kit of replaceable parts may also reduce material waste compared having all disposable components without any durable components (i.e. head immobilizers).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part application to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 741,297, filed Dec. 19, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,057.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an improved head immobilization apparatus that is attachable to, and detachable from, a spine board of the type employed by emergency medical personnel for transporting injured persons.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Spine boards have been used by physicians and emergency medical personnel for a number of years in the transport of injured or incapacitated persons. Particular care and attention is needed for the immobilization of the head and neck of an injured person being transported. Head and cervical spine immobilization is necessary to prevent possible neck (cervical spine) injuries from being exacerbated during transport. It is desirable that such immobilization be performed quickly and properly after an injured p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0038]Two side head blocks are each removably attached to the headboard using a plunger-type lock that engages an elongated slot on a respective side of the headboard. These locks are engaged to the slots of the headboard through separate elongated slots in the head blocks, which may be aligned perpendicularly to the slots of the headboard. Advantageously, the head blocks may be adjusted by moving the engagement of the locks along a set of slots in the headboard and a set of slots in the head blocks, respectively. In addition, the head blocks may be rotated around the locks. Consequently, the present invention allows the blocks to be located at any point on the base within a predetermined limit of motion. The head blocks are, thus, adjustable so as to accommodate the various size features of a particular patient while promoting proper immobilization technique by minimizing movement of, and possible trauma to, the cervical spine of the patient.

[0039]Each head block has a universal configuration such that there is no difference between a left and a right head block. When attached to the headboard, each head block includes an upright planar portion with a soft material (foam pad) attached thereto for fitting a side of the injured person's head and a horizontal portion that includes the aforementioned slot for engaging the headboard. The upright planar portion includes an arch opening that exposes the side of the injured person's head so as to allow access thereto for ...

Problems solved by technology

None of these patents, however, discloses or suggests an immobilization apparatus that provides for ease of adjustability without removal of pa...

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